The Marine Biology of Spongebob Squarepants

Spongebob Squarepants General Term: Sponge Classification: Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Porifera Filter feeder – can eat both plants and animals Invertebrate - Simplest animal form Sessile – they don’t move around

Patrick Star General name – Sea Star, Starfish Classification – Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Echinodermata, Class Asteroidea Invertebrate with exoskeleton Mostly carnivorous, but can eat algae and can filter food Move around on tube feet – like little suction cups.

Squidward Tentacles General name – Squid Classification – Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Molusca, Class Cephalopoda Invertebrate – Contains a stiff “pen” which is flexible and feather shaped Has sensitive tentacles for finding prey – 8 arms, 2 tentacles Carnivorous - Has a “beak” to use as a tooth

Eugene Krabs General name – Crab Classification – Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda, Class Malocostraca Invertebrates – with an exoskeleton Crabs have a varied diet, some are filter feeders, other are predators and carnivorous. They are decopods – 10 legs

Sheldon J. Plankton General name – Plankton (Zoo- or Phyto- ?) Classification – Kingdom Monera Phytoplankton photosynthesize their food while Zooplankton eat phytoplankton Invertebrate – some have exoskeletons

Mrs. Puff General name – puffer fish Classification – Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Actinopterygii Vertebrates – they have a backbone Carnivorous – eats shellfish If eaten, sometimes they can be poisonous and must be prepared properly before consumption.

Pearl Krabs General name – Whale Classification – Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia Vertebrates – they have a backbone Mammals – so they must breathe air Carnivores – Some hunt and some filter feed

Larry the Lobster General name – Lobster Classification – Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda, Class Malacostraca Invertebrate – they have an exoskeleton Omnivore - eats both plants and animals Decapoda – 10 legs, first set of 3 contain claws

The Anchovies General name – anchovy Classification – Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Actinopterygii Vertebrate – they have a backbone Omnivores – Eat plankton (both phyto and zoo) and fish fry (baby fish) They are an important source of food for a number of marine predators

Gary the Snail General name – Sea Snail Classification – Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Molusca, Class Gastropoda Invertebrate – does not have a backbone, but does have a protective shell Each species of sea snail differs in what they eat, but some are grazers eating plants and algae and some are active predators

Classification System How to remember the classification system: Now make your own: K ing Kingdom _____________________ P hillip Phylum _____________________ C ame Class _____________________ O ver Order _____________________ F rom Family _____________________ G reece Genus _____________________ S inging Species _____________________

Quiz – Turn in on separate sheet of paper Questions: General Animal Names (not characters) 1. Which are poisonous to eat? Which are fish? Which are invertebrates? Which are carnivorous? Which are filter feeders? Which have an exoskeleton? Which are mammals? Which can be a plant or animal? Which are decopods? List the classification catagories in order.